Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unrecognizable with bold new look as fans say OKC star has lost his aura

The NBA season is barely over yet Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back on the hardwood.

Although it wasn’t for the Oklahoma City Thunder, rather, the Canadian National Team, who squared off against Puerto Rico in the First Round of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers at TD Coliseum in Hamilton on Friday night.

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Canada’s NBA-powered roster — including the likes of Andrew Nembhard, ‘ultimate villain’ Dillon Brooks, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SGA’s cousin — delivered a statement performance in the 110-84 victory.

Back-to-back MVP Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC’s $293m supermax star, finished with a game-high 26 points to go along with three rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.

The Thunder leader did it all in 27 minutes of play, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

“It’s amazing,” Gilgeous-Alexander, who topped all US sports stars in annual earnings last year, said after the game.

“It’s special. I don’t take those opportunities for granted to be able to play in front of the people that watched me grow up and are from the same city I’m from, grew up in the same neighborhood I’m from, and went through the same experiences. It’s a special connection. It was super fun out there for sure.”

“Hamilton might need an NBA team,” he joked.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rocks new hairstyle for Canada

However, it was SGA’s bold new look, rather than his box score, that caught the attention of basketball fans.

Gilgeous-Alexander is widely recognized for being one of the coldest, coolest, and best dressed stars in The Association, regularly going viral for his high-fashion tunnel fits and bold pre-game outfits.

The mercurial point guard is also well-known for his signature braids and cornrows, but on Friday those were all gone as SGA debuted a much shorter look.

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But many fans, it seems, weren’t rocking with his SGA’s look, and took to social media to call him out for apparently losing all the aura he once oozed.

“Biggest aura loss ever,” posted one fan.

“This will take some time to get used to,” added another.

“This dude has zero swag lol. Only people who can’t dress think he does,” a third fan added.

“He needs his dreads back he got no aura now,” a fourth said.

With that said, some were rocking with Shai’s offseason buzzcut.

“SGA said he just wanted to try something new for the summer, clean low cut looking sharp tho,” one fan commented.

“Looks good, it suits him but the braids had hella aura,” a second wrote.

Not that SGA will pay much attention to the online comments.

He’s more likely to be bothered about Canada (5-0) clinching first place in Group B and securing qualification for the second round of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Canada will now play Jamaica on Monday in the final first-round game for both teams.

Seeding is still at stake with Brazil 4-0, Uruguay 4-1, and Mexico and Chile 3-0.

The second round of the Americas World Cup qualifying tournament begins August 27.

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